Will Windows 8 App Store Be A Billion-Dollar Business?

Microsoft will launch the next version of the Windows OS – unsurprisingly called Windows 8 – in 2012.

Windows has traditionally been one of the largest revenue generators for Microsoft and accounts for more than 25% of the total Trefis price estimate for Microsoft. Windows 7 was launched back in 2009 and has since sold over 400 million copies.

Sales have been slowing and Microsoft’s revenues from Windows dropped 2% last year. With Windows 8, Microsoft expects even more sales as it will support not only desktops and laptops but also tablets. In addition Microsoft will roll out its App Store for Windows 8 concurrently that we believe holds sizable potential if it gains traction.

Apple is its only major competitor in the operating system space with its Mac OS X offering.

Post Your Comment

Post Your Reply

Forbes writers have the ability to call out member comments they find particularly interesting. Called-out comments are highlighted across the Forbes network. You'll be notified if your comment is called out.

Comments

LOL. My company is just now changing to Windows 7 from XP, and only because it’s no longer supported and our clients are having to change, too. Don’t think any of us will touch Windows 8 for at least two or three years. Microsoft usually needs that long to fix their OS so it works properly AND is safe; safety is something for which Microsoft is NOT known.

Windows 7 has been safe and reliable since day one. The fact that you are just updating your ghetto PC 2 years late to the party doesn’t make it the norm. Windows 7 was the fastest selling OS in history meaning most people ran out and bought soon after launch.